Exodus: Bondage, Deliverance, and Passover: The Superiority of Christ

Strange Fire - Part 2 of 2

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Old Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2013-10-17

Synopsis: In this second part of the sermon, Pastor John Weaver continues his exposition of Leviticus 10, drawing lessons from the deaths of Nadab and Abihu. He emphasizes that rebellion can exist even in lawfully ordained offices, that will worship—adding human innovations to God's prescribed worship—is a serious sin, and that a holy office cannot sanctify an unholy person or their children. He also highlights the lex talionis (law of retribution), the necessity of holiness when drawing near to God, and the dual nature of God's Word as a two-edged sword that brings either life or death. The sermon concludes with urgent applications about the danger of presumptuous sin and the need for immediate repentance.

[John Weaver] All right, let's open our Bible's day, if you would please, to the book of Leviticus chapter 10. Leviticus chapter 10. Once again, we're going to read the first three verses. This is the second part of the message that I began last week, which I entitled Strange Fire. Most of the points will be today. So I would encourage you to look in Leviticus chapter 10 and let's begin reading with verse one. And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I'll be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. Now we've been looking at the deaths of Nadab and Abihu and considering the implication of their sins when they offered strange fire unto the Lord.

[John Weaver] You'll remember I pointed out last week the word strange is the Hebrew word zur which literally means strange or foreign and the word is even used for a prostitute in the Old Testament which who of course would be a stranger or foreigner to the family relation. And of course The word strange could also be understood as being an unauthorized fire. And I tried to summarize for you last week the sins of Nadab and Bahu, and I said this, that by demonstrating that their sins were, and included, the sins of offering a strange fire, that is, one that was not taken from the altar which God himself had miraculously and supernaturally kindled, They got a common fire, but they also lifted themselves up with pride.

[John Weaver] They rashly rushed into the holy place where only Aaron was to go. They assumed a role. They assumed responsibilities that was not theirs. They added to the worship of God and all of this in plain disobedience to the very specific command of God. So I began to ask this question. What are we to learn from Leviticus chapter 10? I answered only two points last week. The very first one is this. We have to learn and see the failure of the Levitical priesthood from its very inception. I took you back to the book of Leviticus chapter 8 and showed you there where Moses and Aaron and Nadab and Abihu or particularly Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Ithamar and Eleazar had just spent seven days being sanctified and consecrated.

[John Weaver] When you get to chapter eight, you have the eighth day there where everything is laid upon, laid out. And when you get to chapter nine, it is where the sacrifices are given. That is the eighth day. They're laid out upon the altar. And in the very last passage in Leviticus chapter nine, God sends fire from heaven and consumes the sacrifice and ignites the fire on the altar. When you get to chapter 10, you have the deaths of Nadab and Abihu. So the very first day that Nadab and Abihu served as priests, that very same day that God killed them.

[John Weaver] So we therefore see the failure of the Levitical priesthood at its inception. Now I read a number of passages from the book of Hebrews Let me just read one again from Leviticus 10 verses 1 through 4. Here the Bible says this, For the law, having a shadow of good things to come and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they have ceased to have been offered because that the worshipers once purged should have no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices, There is remembrance of sin made every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. So we see the uselessness on the one hand and the failure on the other hand of the Levitical priesthood because it could not bring anyone to perfection. It really could not bring anyone to God. What it did do in all of those sacrifices and all of those ceremonies It pointed to the one true and living God, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Lamb of God, who does indeed take away our sins.

[John Weaver] And then the second point that I made last week is this. We were to learn and to observe that those in positions of authority should not only know their places, but their responsibilities. Because Nahab and Abihu, although they were priests, they were not the high priest. They did not know their place. They did not know their responsibility. and consequently God kill them. How many tyrants both civil and spiritual must fall before individuals realize that they are not God and they cannot do as they please and they're required of God to be under authority themselves and to do only that which God has given them the authority to do.

[John Weaver] One of my favorite passages is found in Psalm 82 verses six and seven, which is a passage directed to the judges. And God says this, I have said, you are gods and all of your children, the most high, but you shall die like men and fall like one of the princes. So God is saying then that these who are in positions of authority, and of course they abuse that position. Then of course, they're going to fall. They're going to die like men.

[John Weaver] So thirdly today, we want to begin by considering another fundamental truth that is often ignored. And that is this. That rebellion may exist in lawfully ordained offices and by lawfully appointed individuals. Rebellion may exist in lawfully ordained offices and in lawfully appointed individuals. Nadab and Abihu were real, genuine priests. They really, genuinely held an office. It was given to them. It's imperative for you and I to remember when I use the word government today, I'm not just necessarily talking about civil government, but I'm talking about all kinds of government. When we talk about self-government, or family government, or church government, or civil government, we have to understand that government is covenantal in nature. And when government is covenantal in nature, it means that God has ordained government and God holds all parties responsible. Now we're singling out civil government and spiritual government, but I want you to think about this in second Kings chapter 11 and verse 17.

[John Weaver] Jehoiada, who was the high priest, is making some covenants. Don't you listen to this verse. And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people. That they should be the Lord's people and between the king and the people also. So there are two covenants that have been made. One between the Lord, the king, and the people. In that covenant, the king agrees to be God's king and the people agree to be God's people. In the second covenant, There is a covenant made between the king and the people. In that covenant, the king agrees to rule faithfully and the people agree to obey him as long as he does.

[John Weaver] Now you find the same truth in 2 Chronicles 23 and verse 16. Let me just read it. And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, that is God, and between all the people and between the king that they should be the Lord's people.

[John Weaver] Now I want you to understand that those who are in positions of authority, whether it is a spiritual ruler like Nadab and Abihu or whether it is a civil ruler like any king or any president or any congressman. I want you to understand that a civil ruler or spiritual ruler may rebel in his relationship either to God or to the people because they're two distinct covenants. So rebellion may be in the lawfully appointed individual either in relationship or in relationship to God or to the people. Likewise, the people also may rebel in their relationship to God or in relationship to their ruler. You remember in 1 Samuel chapter 8, Israel was demanding a king and God eventually gave them Saul to be king. I want you to hold Leviticus 10. We're coming back there. but I do want you to turn right over to 1st Samuel chapter 12 and let's begin looking at verse 24 and let me show you what God says in reference not only to the ruler but to the people as well 1st Samuel chapter 12 and let's begin reading there with verse 24 watch

[John Weaver] carefully 1st Samuel chapter 12 and verse 24 Samuel is speaking to the people and he says this only fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all your heart, for consider how great things he hath done for you. But if you shall do wickedly, you shall be consumed, both you and your king." Now, if both the king and the people may be consumed, it means, therefore, that they both may do wickedly and both may be guilty of rebellion or treason.

[John Weaver] What we tend to forget is this, that our rulers are sinners, that our rulers are really wicked. In fact, the Bible emphasizes the fact that those who are in positions of authority have a greater tendency to rebel than those who are not in positions of authority. For instance, Psalm 2 elucidates this. If you want to turn to Psalm 2 and look if you would please beginning there with verse 1. Psalm 2 and verse 1. And notice if you would the questions that are asked at the very beginning. Psalm 2, look in verse 1.

[John Weaver] Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing? So very obviously the people can imagine a vain thing. The people can rebel. The people can transgress. But watch verse 2. The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed saying, let us break their bands of sunder and cast their cords away from us. What are the rulers saying?

[John Weaver] We don't want to be bound by God. We don't want to be limited by God. We don't want to be under God's authority. We want to be our own authority. We want to do our own things. So civil rulers may rebel to the extent, listen carefully, that they become a god to themselves and thus a rival to the one true and the living God. They can become so wicked that Psalm 94 and verse 20 ask this question, shall the throne of iniquity, that is a wicked civil government, shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee which frameth mischief by law or make sin legal? So the question is, ask Will a wicked, civil, reprobate, rebellious government, will it, can it have fellowship with God when that wicked, rebellious government or ruler does that and makes legal that which God has said is wicked and wrong?

[John Weaver] And the answer, of course, no. It is not in fellowship with God, nor can it be.

[John Weaver] Now, let me make a statement and I want you to listen carefully because I realize there are people who stand on both sides of the issue. So whether or not an individual agrees with the establishment of the United States Constitution or not, one thing is for certain. In its establishment, it was supposed to be the document that bound down the federal government. Now I want you to listen carefully to Article 6 and Paragraph 2. the Constitution, this Constitution, and the laws of the United States, which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties which shall be made under the authority of the United States, and by the way, the authority of the United States is the Constitution, listen carefully, shall be the supreme law of the land, and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution of laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.

[John Weaver] Now the point I'm making is very simple. The federal government is to be bound by the Constitution. It was Thomas Jefferson who said, bind them down with the chains of the Constitution. I know and I understand that only the Lord can fix our problems. I understand that. I understand that our problems are primarily spiritual. But have you ever stopped to think? if our government and if our rulers actually obeyed the Constitution and were actually limited according to the Constitution. I'm not saying that we would be problem free.

[John Weaver] We certainly would not be. But we would have a whole lot less problems than we have today because there would be a limitation. The point I want you to understand is this. You may have a lawfully appointed office. and there may be a lawfully elected individual in that office and that lawful office and that lawfully elected individual may turn around and act unlawfully and thus become a tyrant and a traitor and treasonous because that individual swore an oath to uphold the Constitution before he ever took the office. So all of these rulers, then civil rulers, who are violating the Constitution are traitors. They're treasonous individuals. They are violating the oath that they took. Any spiritual leader, likewise, who violates the Word of God is violating an oath in that sense of the word.

[John Weaver] So obviously, the third point that I'm trying to make is very clear. Very simple from scripture, a lawfully elected office and a lawfully appointed individual may act rebelliously and treasonously and be classified as a traitor before God and before man. Here's the fourth point I want to emphasize. One of the main sins of Nadab and Umbayu consisted in what I would call will worship. You know, I ask in my introductory part of my first message, is it possible to commit the sin of offering strange fire today?

[John Weaver] And the answer is going to come back, yes. Because you see, strange fire is anything that the Lord has not commanded in His worship and in His service. What did Nadab and Abihu do? They offered a strange fire. What was their strange fire? Their strange fire was their own innovation. It was their own invention. They did not use that which God supernaturally ignited. They went and got a common fire or an unauthorized fire. They didn't see anything wrong with it. I mean, fire is fire, is it not? That was their reasoning. So they just simply invented this fire. You see, will worship signifies simply a mode of worship which man chooses for himself. independently of the revelation which God has given. So will worship is strange fire that which God has commanded them not.

[John Weaver] Will worship is the will of man dictating in spiritual things, which few have ever really considered to be a sin, but yet that's exactly what it is. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Colossians chapter two. Colossians chapter two, and let's begin reading there with verse 18. Colossians chapter two. First of all, look at verse 18, then we'll skip down to verse 23. Colossians two and verse 18.

[John Weaver] Notice what the apostle Paul writes. Let no man be guile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels. intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind." Now, why would anyone want to worship angels? Why would anyone want to worship anything other than what is revealed in the Word of God? Well, the answer is because someone has decided, this is the way I think folks ought to worship. Instead of listening to God, it's will worship.

[John Weaver] Skip down to verse 23. He says, which things that have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship and humility and neglecting of the body, not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh. But notice he says, which things indeed have a show of wisdom in will worship. So will worship then always leads to a false humility and neglect of the body. Will worship is that which goes beyond the word of God. Will worship is that which man adds to the Word of God.

[John Weaver] What he thinks is aesthetic and beautiful and nice and pleasing, it's what he wants. So will worship is trying to worship God in your own way. It is you trying to prescribe the correct way to worship God for yourself or what you think would be pleasing to God. And I want you to understand something, to reject God's plain commands and substitute what you desire and what you want for God's worship is treason in the highest order. It is idolatry because you're elevating yourself above God and you're saying God I don't really care what you have directed in this area I want this and I think this is pleasing and I think you should accept this.

[John Weaver] God has never ever left such an important matter to man. God is always prescribed the way that He is to be worshipped and the way He is to be served. The presence of God must have full power and full sway and flesh must be solid before Him. We cannot attempt to worship God or serve God in any way that we please. We must worship Him and serve Him in the way that He has ordained. When we fail to do so, we're rebelling against God. We have to remember that worship is for Him.

[John Weaver] It is not necessarily for us. And when we begin to innovate and invent and bring into God's worship that which we please and that which we like, we're signing our own death warrant, just like Nadab and Abihu who brought destruction upon themselves. I want you to think about King Saul for a moment. If you would turn back in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 13, I'm talking about people who do things they have no authority to do, especially in relationship to the worship of God. So if you will go back to 1 Samuel chapter 13, and let's begin reading there with verse 8, and look what happened to King Saul. 1 Samuel chapter 13, watch verse 8. I believe that's correct, let's see. Oh, I'm in 1 Kings, that was my problem. 1 Samuel chapter 13 it is, and verse 8. Watch carefully. And he tarried seven days according to the set time that Samuel had appointed. But Samuel came not to Gilgal, and the people were scattered from him from Saul. And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings.

[John Weaver] And he, king Saul, offered the burnt offering. And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came, and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Mikmash, therefore said I, The Philistines will come down upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication of the Lord. I forced myself, therefore, and I offered a burnt offering. And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly. Thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord by God, which he commanded thee.

[John Weaver] For now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever, but now thy kingdom shall not continue. The Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over a people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord God commanded thee." Saul, like Nadab and Abihu, lost not only his position, he lost his kingdom, and he ultimately lost his life. Why? because he wanted to worship God in the way that he wanted to worship God. Instead of waiting for Samuel, Saul had absolutely no authority to do what he did.

[John Weaver] And so he began to invent, he said, this is an emergency. I've got to do this. Samuel's not here. And Saul was simply wiped out. Do you realize, like Saul, now I want you to listen to this, like Saul, Nadab and Abihu, Not only lost their lives, they lost their progeny. Twice it is recorded in scripture. Listen carefully. Twice it is recorded in scripture that Nadab and Abihu had no children.

[John Weaver] Let me read this from Numbers 3 verses 1 through 4. Listen carefully. These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the Lord spake with Moses in Mount Sinai. And these are the names of the sons of Aaron, Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office. And Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord when they offered strange fire before the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai and they had no children. And Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father. Note they had no children. Now in 1 Chronicles 24 and verse 2 the Bible says this, but Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children. Therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office. So God basically not only cut off Nadab and Ibihu, He cut them off before, if they were married, before children were born. And twice God emphasizes that they had no children.

[John Weaver] Do you realize that God frequently makes sure that the wicked does not reproduce? Oftentimes He cuts them off in the prime of life. The Bible says in Psalm 55 and verse 23, and deceitful men shall not live out half their days." What does that mean? It means God cuts them down in the prime of life. Let me show you a passage. I want you to look in Jeremiah chapter 22. I want to show you about Caniah who was a wicked, wicked ungodly man. And I want you to notice what God says concerning Caniah. Jeremiah chapter 22 and let's begin reading there verse 28. Jeremiah 22 And by the way, Caniah was a king, Jeconiah. But look, if you would, Jeremiah 22, verse 28, God says, Is this man, Caniah, a despised, broken idol?

[John Weaver] Is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? Wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not? O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord, write ye this man childless. A man that shall not prosper in his days, for no man of his seed shall prosper sitting upon the throne of David and ruling any more in Judah." What did God do? God not only wiped out Canaan, He wiped out his posterity.

[John Weaver] Just like He did Nadab and Abihu. I want you to understand something. Those who are in a lawfully elected office may rebel against God themselves. Those who are in a lawfully elected office, spiritual or civil, may be guilty of will worship, and God wipes them out. Let me give you the fifth thing I want to cover today, and that is this. We must learn from the deaths of Nadab and Abihu that a holy office will not sanctify an unholy man, neither will it save or sanctify his unholy children."

[John Weaver] Let me say that again. A holy office will not save or sanctify an unholy man, neither will it save or sanctify his unholy children. There is no ruler There is no position of authority that will be protected by his office or by his position. Certainly, if anyone would have ever been protected by an office or by his position, it should have been Nadab and Abihu. You have to remember that Nadab and Abihu were not only sons of Aaron, the high priest, They were also the nephews of Moses. Now, Moses was a unique individual. Did you know that Moses held three offices? Just like our Lord. Moses was prophet, priest, and king. The Bible tells us in Deuteronomy 32 and verse 5, talking about Moses, and he was king and jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together. So God identifies Moses as a king. And then in Deuteronomy 18 and verse 15, Moses said this, The Lord by God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee by brethren like unto me, and to him shall you hearken.

[John Weaver] So Moses is a king, Moses is a prophet, and would you like to guess who it was that sanctified and consecrated Aaron and his sons. It was Moses. Moses was a Levite. Moses was the one that offered the sacrifices for Aaron, Nadab, Nebihu, Eleazar, and Ephemer. So Moses was prophet, priest, and king. So Nadab and Abihu were not only sons of Aaron, they were nephews of Moses who held three offices. So if anyone was ever going to be sanctified or saved because of their office or because of some ruler in the office, it should have been Nadab and Abihu. But they were not saved.

[John Weaver] I want you to learn something. Listen carefully. As difficult as it is. We must learn that there's absolutely that absolutely nothing that parents can do to save their children. Even when those children are grown. Yes. We may teach them. Yes. We may pray for them. Yes. We may do our best to guide and direct them, but the truth is we cannot save them. There's not one of us that can save his own child. We cannot make our children believe. We cannot make our children have faith. We cannot make our children do what is right. Aaron's sons were not only grown, they had been instructed and taught.

[John Weaver] Moreover, these boys had been set aside for special service unto God. They had just gone through seven days of consecration and sanctification. These boys had seen the miracles of God. Nadab and Abihu had heard the voice of God. And yet, they died in God's divine displeasure. I frequently tell people that the two most difficult lessons that I've learned in nearly 50 years of preaching are these. You cannot help everybody. Yet you can't. You want to help them. But there are some people who refuse to be instructed. They refuse to be helped. They refuse to listen. They refuse to obey. They're just some people you cannot help. And the second lesson is even more difficult. And sometimes those you cannot help are your own family. I dare say that probably everyone in this assembly, everybody in this room has family members that are unconverted. You have family members that are unsafe. You have family members that what we would call black sheep.

[John Weaver] And you may witness to them, you may talk to them. You may endeavor to help them, but it's like water off a duck's back. My children, my in-laws, my grandchildren will not be saved because I'm a pastor. They will not be saved because I'm endeavoring to live a holy, godly, obedient life. No, the truth is they must personally repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ And if they refuse, if they do not, there's absolutely nothing that I can do for them. Moreover, they must live a life of obedience.

[John Weaver] But if they do not, I cannot make them. Only the grace and mercy of God can save them. And only the grace and mercy of God can make them obedient. You say, do you pray for your family? Of course I pray for them. I try to do what I can to influence them, but I can't save them. And neither can you save your own. If any office or if any religious leader in an office was going to be able to help or save anybody, surely it would have been Aaron and Moses helping to save Nadab and Abihu.

[John Weaver] But no, they could not. There's not an office that can save or sanctify an unholy man. There's not a godly man who can save or sanctify his unholy children. It's absolutely impossible. We need the grace and mercy of God. That's exactly what we're being taught in Leviticus chapter 10. Sixthly, Aaron was compelled to acknowledge the righteousness of God's judgment upon his sons. I want you to go back to Leviticus chapter 10. I want you to see this. Aaron was compelled to acknowledge the righteousness of God's judgment upon his sons. Look in Leviticus chapter 10 beginning there in verse 3. Leviticus 10 verse 3. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me. And before all the people all be glorified, and Aaron held his peace. And Moses called Mishael and Elsavan, the sons of Uziel, the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near and carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp. So they went near and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as Moses said.

[John Weaver] And Moses said unto Aaron and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes, lest you die. And lest wrath come upon all the people, but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the Lord hath kindled. And you shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest you die. For the anointing oil of the Lord is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses. What do I mean when I say that Aaron was compelled to acknowledge the righteous judgment of God upon his sons? God says, Aaron, you can't mourn for them. They were wicked. I judged them. I destroyed them. Here's another hard lesson. Are you listening? When God judges our children, we must always side with the Lord. As difficult as it may be, as grieved as we will be, and as humiliated as we shall be, we must always confess and acknowledge that the judge of all the earth does right.

[John Weaver] You remember, Lot was Abraham's nephew. And when God revealed Abraham that he was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham began to intervene for what? His family. You remember how Abraham got God down to if there were just ten righteous, he'd spare those cities. And Abraham asked, shall not the judge of all the earth do right? Genesis 18 verse 25. And of course, the judge of all the earth is going to do what's right. God only does that which is right and holy.

[John Weaver] And we should never complain and never criticize His judgments, even when His judgments affect our children and our families. Aaron was compelled to acknowledge the judgment of God, that God was righteous in taking his sons. And I'll just tell you this, folks. It's just simply God's mercy that he's allowed any of us to live and any of our children to live. And we better be thankful for the days and for the times that God has given us our children.

[John Weaver] Seventhly, very quickly, I want you to consider that the destruction of Nadab and Abihu is an example of the Lex Talionis of scripture. Lex Talionis is just simply Latin. for the law of retribution. What do I mean by the law of retribution? Listen carefully. Nadab and Abihu sinned by fire, and God judged and destroyed them, and they died by fire. You remember the passage, in fact, you'll read it a couple times, but in Exodus 21, verses 24 and 25, God says, an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

[John Weaver] Now what God was demanding was that the punishment be made to fit the crime. God is a God of justice, and God always makes the punishment fit the crime. That's why he said in Galatians 6, 7, and 8, be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever amends, so with that shall he also reap. He that sought the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption. He that sought the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. So he says, don't be surprised that you reap exactly what you're going to sow.

[John Weaver] Because the lex talionis is not only in the Old Testament, it's in the New Testament as well. And Galatians 6, 7, 8 is an example of the lex talionis. That is the law of retribution where God makes the punishment fit the crime. We always reap exactly that which we sow. Those boys died, those boys sinned by fire. They died by fire. Eighthly, we must learn this. I want you to watch this. We must learn that the closer we get to the Lord, the more holy we must be.

[John Weaver] Go back to Leviticus 10 and look in verse three. Look what God says. Then Moses said unto Aaron, this is that that the Lord spake saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me. What? Nadab and Abihu were almost as close as you could get to the Lord at that point in time. Aaron was the closest. He was the high priest. You remember, Nadab was the eldest son, which meant when Aaron died, Nadab would have been next in line.

[John Weaver] These boys should have been more holy than they were. God is going to be sanctified in those that serve Him. We're told in Hebrews chapter 12 and verse 14, Follow peace with all men, listen carefully, and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. Follow peace with all men and holiness with which no man shall see the Lord. As you mature and grow in your Christian life, you should become more holy, more godly, more obedient. And the closer you get to the Lord, the more holy you must be, because God is a holy God, and He's going to be sanctified those who come near unto Him. Which means, of course, if we want to be close to our Lord, we have to be holy, godly, submissive, and obedient individuals. The more holy, the closer our connection with Him. He's the one that makes us holy. God says, I will be sanctified in those that serve me, those that are near me. So the more closely we get to the Lord, the more holy we should be.

[John Weaver] Ninthly, lastly, I want to point out, it should be evident from this passage, Leviticus 10, that God's sword has two edges. That means it cuts in two ways. In Hebrews 4, verses 12 and 13, God says this, For the word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing even to dividing asunder of joints and marrow in the soul of the spirit, and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart.

[John Weaver] Is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight, but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do?" Now listen to what he said, for the word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword. That two-edged sword, if I swing this way, it will cut you. If I come back this way, it will cut you as well.

[John Weaver] supernaturally lit the fire on that altar and consumed the sacrifice. I think the fire that was acceptable unto God, the fire that sanctified the sacrifice and sanctify the service and sanctified Aaron as well pleasing to God. was also the same fire that God sent and consumed His sons because they failed to sanctify the Lord in their hearts and took upon themselves a self-willed worship. I want you to turn in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians chapter 2.

[John Weaver] Let me show you what I mean by a two-edged sword. 2 Corinthians chapter 2 2nd Corinthians chapter 2, and let's begin reading there with verse 14. 2nd Corinthians 2, verse 14.

[John Weaver] Now I want you to watch carefully what the Apostle Paul says. 2nd Corinthians 2, verse 14.

[John Weaver] Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ. We always triumph. And make it manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place. Then Paul says this, for we are unto God a sweet saver of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish. To the one where the saver of death unto death and to the other, the saver of life unto life and who is sufficient for these things. Now, I want you to know what the apostle Paul said. He says, God always makes us triumph in Christ. He says, we are a saver of life unto life to those that believe. But we're also the saver of death and the death of those who do not believe.

[John Weaver] Do you realize the same gospel that draws sinners will also drive centers away? The same sun that melts the wax will harden the clay. God's Word is a double-edged sword. It will either draw you to Christ or it will drive you farther away because of your sin and your rebellion and your wickedness. Go back to Leviticus chapter 10. In light of this, again, look at verse 3. Leviticus 10 and verse 3.

[John Weaver] Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is that that the Lord spake saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me. And before all the people, I will be glorified. Watch this. And Aaron held his peace. Do you know something? Those whom God saves will redound to His grace and mercy. Those who fail to believe and fail to repent will redound unto God's righteousness and justice. God's going to be glorified either in salvation or damnation, but He will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. Aaron could say nothing because he knew that Moses spoke the truth. God is glorified in the salvation of the righteous. And God is also glorified in the condemnation of the wicked. Do you remember in Revelation chapter 19 what the saints said when the wicked were judged? Hallelujah for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. God will be praised in life and in death.

[John Weaver] Let me make just a couple of applications. The first one is this. I've asked people and I've heard people ask me and make a statement. I don't understand this. Can you explain this to me? How could God kill Nadab and Abihu just for bringing in strange fire? Well, first, I want you to understand their sins included far more than just strange fire. But I also want you to see what you may determine to be minor in your eyes may not be minor in the eyes of God. We are not the determiner of minor and major sins. God is the determiner of minor and major sins. Bishop Hall said it like this, it is a dangerous thing in the service of God to decline from his own institutions. We have to do with a God who is wise to prescribe his own worship just to require that which he has prescribed and powerful to revenge that which He is not prescribed. And that's true. That is true. Also in the lives of Nadab and Abihu, we also have an excellent example of the truth of Proverbs 29 and verse 1.

[John Weaver] Let me just quote it. Where God said, He that being often reproved and hard at his neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy.

[John Weaver] Now, I will be honest with you. I do not know how often or how frequently Nadab and Abihu were instructed. I do know that they were instructed and instructed well. I do know that for seven days, they probably went over everything time and time again before that eighth day when they had to offer the sacrifices. And what did God do? God cut them down quickly and suddenly.

[John Weaver] I want you to stop and think about this. Nadab and Abihu did not have time to cry out. They did not have time to beg God for mercy. They did not even have time to say, Lord, forgive me. They died in the very act of their sin. They were struck instantly, divinely, supernaturally, miraculously. They had no time to cry for mercy and ask the Lord for forgiveness. It is true that God is long suffering to us word.

[John Weaver] But sometimes he does make quick work with sinners and sentences executed speedily. And presumptuous sinners bring upon themselves a quick and sudden destruction. And God justly and righteously does not even allow them space to repent. Which brings me to this. I've heard so many people say, well, here's my plan. My plan is to live my life the way I please. And to do what I want to do and what thrills me.

[John Weaver] And right before I die, I'm going to ask the Lord to save me. Oh? You may die like Nadab and Abihu. You may never get to cry for mercy.

[John Weaver] Now is the time to repent. Now is the time to believe. Now is the time to serve Christ. Now is the time to live for Him. God gave us the example of Nadab and Bahu, not only for our instruction, but for our warning. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask for your divine help. Give us understanding. May we be warned. May we be instructed. May we be challenged, and Lord, may we become more holy, more godly, more obedient. And make sure, Father, that we give Thee that which Thou dost require and that which Thou dost demand in Your service and in Your worship. We praise Thee as the sovereign, holy, righteous God that Thou art. And we ask, Father, for Your grace in our lives. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

Strange Fire - Part 2 of 2

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	y66BQ11LCdw
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Exodus: Bondage, Deliverance, and Passover: The Superiority of Christ
Genre	Sermon
Date	2013-10-17
Dictation Name
Book	Book 191: Strange Fire — Chapter 2
Source Timed Segments	64

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review

Recap of the first sermon: Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire, an unauthorized fire not taken from the altar, and their sins included pride, rushing into the holy place, assuming unauthorized roles, and disobedience.

All right, let's open our Bibles today, if you would please, to the book of Leviticus chapter 10. Leviticus chapter 10. Once again, we're going to read the first three verses. This is the second part of the message that I began last week, which I entitled Strange Fire. Most of the points will be today. So I would encourage you to look in Leviticus chapter 10 and let's begin reading with verse one. And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I'll be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. Now we've been looking at the deaths of Nadab and Abihu and considering the implication of their sins when they offered strange fire unto the Lord.

You'll remember I pointed out last week the word strange is the Hebrew word zur which literally means strange or foreign and the word is even used for a prostitute in the Old Testament which who of course would be a stranger or foreigner to the family relation. And of course The word strange could also be understood as being an unauthorized fire. And I tried to summarize for you last week the sins of Nadab and Abihu, and I said this, that by demonstrating that their sins were, and included, the sins of offering a strange fire, that is, one that was not taken from the altar which God himself had miraculously and supernaturally kindled, They got a common fire, but they also lifted themselves up with pride. They rashly rushed into the holy place where only Aaron was to go. They assumed a role. They assumed responsibilities that was not theirs. They added to the worship of God and all of this in plain disobedience to the very specific command of God. So I began to ask this question. What are we to learn from Leviticus chapter 10? I answered only two points last week. The very first one is this. We have to learn and see the failure of the Levitical priesthood from its very inception. I took you back to the book of Leviticus chapter 8 and showed you there where Moses and Aaron and Nadab and Abihu or particularly Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Ithamar and Eleazar had just spent seven days being sanctified and consecrated.

Rebellion in Lawfully Ordained Offices

Rebellion can exist in lawfully appointed individuals and offices. Government is covenantal, and rulers or people can rebel against God or each other. Civil rulers who violate their constitutional oaths are traitors.

So thirdly today, we want to begin by considering another fundamental truth that is often ignored. And that is this. That rebellion may exist in lawfully ordained offices and by lawfully appointed individuals. Rebellion may exist in lawfully ordained offices and in lawfully appointed individuals. Nadab and Abihu were real, genuine priests. They really, genuinely held an office. It was given to them. It's imperative for you and I to remember when I use the word government today, I'm not just necessarily talking about civil government, but I'm talking about all kinds of government. When we talk about self-government, or family government, or church government, or civil government, we have to understand that government is covenantal in nature. And when government is covenantal in nature, it means that God has ordained government and God holds all parties responsible. Now we're singling out civil government and spiritual government, but I want you to think about this in second Kings chapter 11 and verse 17.

Jehoiada, who was the high priest, is making some covenants. Don't you listen to this verse. And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people. That they should be the Lord's people and between the king and the people also. So there are two covenants that have been made. One between the Lord, the king, and the people. In that covenant, the king agrees to be God's king and the people agree to be God's people. In the second covenant, There is a covenant made between the king and the people. In that covenant, the king agrees to rule faithfully and the people agree to obey him as long as he does.

Now you find the same truth in 2 Chronicles 23 and verse 16. Let me just read it. And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, that is God, and between all the people and between the king that they should be the Lord's people. Now I want you to understand that those who are in positions of authority, whether it is a spiritual ruler like Nadab and Abihu or whether it is a civil ruler like any king or any president or any congressman. I want you to understand that a civil ruler or spiritual ruler may rebel in his relationship either to God or to the people because they're two distinct covenants. So rebellion may be in the lawfully appointed individual either in relationship or in relationship to God or to the people. Likewise, the people also may rebel in their relationship to God or in relationship to their ruler. You remember in 1 Samuel chapter 8, Israel was demanding a king and God eventually gave them Saul to be king. I want you to hold Leviticus 10. We're coming back there. but I do want you to turn right over to 1st Samuel chapter 12 and let's begin looking at verse 24 and let me show you what God says in reference not only to the ruler but to the people as well 1st Samuel chapter 12 and let's begin reading there with verse 24 watch

carefully 1st Samuel chapter 12 and verse 24 Samuel is speaking to the people and he says this

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 12:24-25

only fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all your heart, for consider how great things he hath done for you. But if

you shall do wickedly, you shall be consumed, both you and your king." Now, if both the king and the people may be consumed, it means, therefore, that they both may do wickedly and both may be guilty of rebellion or treason. What we tend to forget is this, that our rulers are sinners, that our rulers are really wicked. In fact, the Bible emphasizes the fact that those who are in positions of authority have a greater tendency to rebel than those who are not in positions of authority. For instance, Psalm 2 elucidates this. If you want to turn to Psalm 2 and look if you would please beginning there with verse 1. Psalm 2 and verse 1. And notice if you would the questions that are asked at the very beginning. Psalm 2, look in verse 1.

Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing? So very obviously the people can imagine a vain thing. The people can rebel. The people can transgress. But watch verse 2. The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed saying, let us break their bands asunder and cast their cords away from us. What are the rulers saying?

We don't want to be bound by God. We don't want to be limited by God. We don't want to be under God's authority. We want to be our own authority. We want to do our own things. So civil rulers may rebel to the extent, listen carefully, that they become a god to themselves and thus a rival to the one true and the living God. They can become so wicked that Psalm 94 and verse 20 ask this question, shall the throne of iniquity, that is a wicked civil government, shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee which frameth mischief by law or make sin legal? So the question is, ask Will a wicked, civil, reprobate, rebellious government, will it, can it have fellowship with God when that wicked, rebellious government or ruler does that and makes legal that which God has said is wicked and wrong?

And the answer, of course, no. It is not in fellowship with God, nor can it be. Now, let me make a statement and I want you to listen carefully because I realize there are people who stand on both sides of the issue. So whether or not an individual agrees with the establishment of the United States Constitution or not, one thing is for certain. In its establishment, it was supposed to be the document that bound down the federal government. Now I want you to listen carefully to Article 6 and Paragraph 2. the Constitution, this Constitution, and the laws of the United States, which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties which shall be made under the authority of the United States, and by the way, the authority of the United States is the Constitution, listen carefully, shall be the supreme law of the land, and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution of laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.

Now the point I'm making is very simple. The federal government is to be bound by the Constitution. It was Thomas Jefferson who said, bind them down with the chains of the Constitution. I know and I understand that only the Lord can fix our problems. I understand that. I understand that our problems are primarily spiritual. But have you ever stopped to think? if our government and if our rulers actually obeyed the Constitution and were actually limited according to the Constitution. I'm not saying that we would be problem free.

We certainly would not be. But we would have a whole lot less problems than we have today because there would be a limitation. The point I want you to understand is this. You may have a lawfully appointed office. and there may be a lawfully elected individual in that office and that lawful office and that lawfully elected individual may turn around and act unlawfully and thus become a tyrant and a traitor and treasonous because that individual swore an oath to uphold the Constitution before he ever took the office. So all of these rulers, then civil rulers, who are violating the Constitution are traitors. They're treasonous individuals. They are violating the oath that they took. Any spiritual leader, likewise, who violates the Word of God is violating an oath in that sense of the word.

So obviously, the third point that I'm trying to make is very clear. Very simple from scripture, a lawfully elected office and a lawfully appointed individual may act rebelliously and treasonously and be classified as a traitor before God and before man. Here's the fourth point I want to emphasize. One of the main sins of Nadab and Abihu consisted in what I would call will worship. You know, I ask in my introductory part of my first message, is it possible to commit the sin of offering strange fire today?

Will Worship as Strange Fire

One of the main sins of Nadab and Abihu was will worship—worship devised by man independently of God's revelation. This is treason and idolatry, as God alone prescribes how He is to be worshipped.

And the answer is going to come back, yes. Because you see, strange fire is anything that the Lord has not commanded in His worship and in His service. What did Nadab and Abihu do? They offered a strange fire. What was their strange fire? Their strange fire was their own innovation. It was their own invention. They did not use that which God supernaturally ignited. They went and got a common fire or an unauthorized fire. They didn't see anything wrong with it. I mean, fire is fire, is it not? That was their reasoning. So they just simply invented this fire. You see, will worship signifies simply a mode of worship which man chooses for himself. independently of the revelation which God has given. So will worship is strange fire that which God has commanded them not.

Will worship is the will of man dictating in spiritual things, which few have ever really considered to be a sin, but yet that's exactly what it is. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Colossians chapter two. Colossians chapter two, and let's begin reading there with verse 18. Colossians chapter two. First of all, look at verse 18, then we'll skip down to verse 23. Colossians two and verse 18. Notice what the apostle Paul writes.

Scripture Reading — Colossians 2:18, 23

Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels. intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind."

Now, why would anyone want to worship angels? Why would anyone want to worship anything other than what is revealed in the Word of God? Well, the answer is because someone has decided, this is the way I think folks ought to worship. Instead of listening to God, it's will worship.

Skip down to verse 23. He says, which things that have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship and humility and neglecting of the body, not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh. But notice he says, which things indeed have a show of wisdom in will worship. So will worship then always leads to a false humility and neglect of the body. Will worship is that which goes beyond the word of God. Will worship is that which man adds to the Word of God. What he thinks is aesthetic and beautiful and nice and pleasing, it's what he wants. So will worship is trying to worship God in your own way. It is you trying to prescribe the correct way to worship God for yourself or what you think would be pleasing to God. And I want you to understand something, to reject God's plain commands and substitute what you desire and what you want for God's worship is treason in the highest order. It is idolatry because you're elevating yourself above God and you're saying God I don't really care what you have directed in this area I want this and I think this is pleasing and I think you should accept this.

God has never ever left such an important matter to man. God is always prescribed the way that He is to be worshipped and the way He is to be served. The presence of God must have full power and full sway and flesh must be solid before Him. We cannot attempt to worship God or serve God in any way that we please. We must worship Him and serve Him in the way that He has ordained. When we fail to do so, we're rebelling against God. We have to remember that worship is for Him.

It is not necessarily for us. And when we begin to innovate and invent and bring into God's worship that which we please and that which we like, we're signing our own death warrant, just like Nadab and Abihu who brought destruction upon themselves. I want you to think about King Saul for a moment. If you would turn back in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 13, I'm talking about people who do things they have no authority to do, especially in relationship to the worship of God. So if you will go back to 1 Samuel chapter 13, and let's begin reading there with verse 8, and look what happened to King Saul. 1 Samuel chapter 13, watch verse 8. I believe that's correct, let's see. Oh, I'm in 1 Kings, that was my problem. 1 Samuel chapter 13 it is, and verse 8. Watch carefully. And he tarried seven days according to the set time that Samuel had appointed. But Samuel came not to Gilgal, and the people were scattered from him from Saul. And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings.

And he, king Saul, offered the burnt offering. And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came, and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash, therefore said I, The Philistines will come down upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication of the Lord. I forced myself, therefore, and I offered a burnt offering. And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly. Thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord by God, which he commanded thee.

For now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever, but now thy kingdom shall not continue. The Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over a people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord God commanded thee." Saul, like Nadab and Abihu, lost not only his position, he lost his kingdom, and he ultimately lost his life. Why? because he wanted to worship God in the way that he wanted to worship God. Instead of waiting for Samuel, Saul had absolutely no authority to do what he did. And so he began to invent, he said, this is an emergency. I've got to do this. Samuel's not here. And Saul was simply wiped out. Do you realize, like Saul, now I want you to listen to this, like Saul, Nadab and Abihu, Not only lost their lives, they lost their progeny. Twice it is recorded in scripture. Listen carefully. Twice it is recorded in scripture that Nadab and Abihu had no children.

A Holy Office Cannot Sanctify an Unholy Man

No office or position can save or sanctify an unholy person or their children. Even Aaron and Moses could not save Nadab and Abihu; salvation requires personal repentance and faith.

Let me say that again. A holy office will not save or sanctify an unholy man, neither will it save or sanctify his unholy children. There is no ruler There is no position of authority that will be protected by his office or by his position. Certainly, if anyone would have ever been protected by an office or by his position, it should have been Nadab and Abihu. You have to remember that Nadab and Abihu were not only sons of Aaron, the high priest, They were also the nephews of Moses. Now, Moses was a unique individual. Did you know that Moses held three offices? Just like our Lord. Moses was prophet, priest, and king. The Bible tells us in Deuteronomy 32 and verse 5, talking about Moses, and he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together. So God identifies Moses as a king. And then in Deuteronomy 18 and verse 15, Moses said this, The Lord by God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee by brethren like unto me, and to him shall you hearken.

So Moses is a king, Moses is a prophet, and would you like to guess who it was that sanctified and consecrated Aaron and his sons. It was Moses. Moses was a Levite. Moses was the one that offered the sacrifices for Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. So Moses was prophet, priest, and king. So Nadab and Abihu were not only sons of Aaron, they were nephews of Moses who held three offices. So if anyone was ever going to be sanctified or saved because of their office or because of some ruler in the office, it should have been Nadab and Abihu. But they were not saved.

I want you to learn something. Listen carefully. As difficult as it is. We must learn that there's absolutely that absolutely nothing that parents can do to save their children. Even when those children are grown. Yes. We may teach them. Yes. We may pray for them. Yes. We may do our best to guide and direct them, but the truth is we cannot save them. There's not one of us that can save his own child. We cannot make our children believe. We cannot make our children have faith. We cannot make our children do what is right. Aaron's sons were not only grown, they had been instructed and taught.

Moreover, these boys had been set aside for special service unto God. They had just gone through seven days of consecration and sanctification. These boys had seen the miracles of God. Nadab and Abihu had heard the voice of God. And yet, they died in God's divine displeasure. I frequently tell people that the two most difficult lessons that I've learned in nearly 50 years of preaching are these. You cannot help everybody. Yet you can't. You want to help them. But there are some people who refuse to be instructed. They refuse to be helped. They refuse to listen. They refuse to obey. They're just some people you cannot help. And the second lesson is even more difficult. And sometimes those you cannot help are your own family. I dare say that probably everyone in this assembly, everybody in this room has family members that are unconverted. You have family members that are unsafe. You have family members that what we would call black sheep.

And you may witness to them, you may talk to them. You may endeavor to help them, but it's like water off a duck's back. My children, my in-laws, my grandchildren will not be saved because I'm a pastor. They will not be saved because I'm endeavoring to live a holy, godly, obedient life. No, the truth is they must personally repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ And if they refuse, if they do not, there's absolutely nothing that I can do for them. Moreover, they must live a life of obedience.

But if they do not, I cannot make them. Only the grace and mercy of God can save them. And only the grace and mercy of God can make them obedient. You say, do you pray for your family? Of course I pray for them. I try to do what I can to influence them, but I can't save them. And neither can you save your own. If any office or if any religious leader in an office was going to be able to help or save anybody, surely it would have been Aaron and Moses helping to save Nadab and Abihu.

But no, they could not. There's not an office that can save or sanctify an unholy man. There's not a godly man who can save or sanctify his unholy children. It's absolutely impossible. We need the grace and mercy of God. That's exactly what we're being taught in Leviticus chapter 10. Sixthly, Aaron was compelled to acknowledge the righteousness of God's judgment upon his sons. I want you to go back to Leviticus chapter 10. I want you to see this. Aaron was compelled to acknowledge the righteousness of God's judgment upon his sons. Look in Leviticus chapter 10 beginning there in verse 3. Leviticus 10 verse 3. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me. And before all the people all be glorified, and Aaron held his peace. And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel, the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near and carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp. So they went near and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as Moses said.

Acknowledging God's Righteous Judgment

Aaron was compelled to acknowledge the righteousness of God's judgment on his sons, not mourning for them. When God judges our children, we must side with the Lord and confess He does right.

And Moses said unto Aaron and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes, lest you die. And lest wrath come upon all the people, but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the Lord hath kindled. And you shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest you die. For the anointing oil of the Lord is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses. What do I mean when I say that Aaron was compelled to acknowledge the righteous judgment of God upon his sons? God says, Aaron, you can't mourn for them. They were wicked. I judged them. I destroyed them. Here's another hard lesson. Are you listening? When God judges our children, we must always side with the Lord. As difficult as it may be, as grieved as we will be, and as humiliated as we shall be, we must always confess and acknowledge that the judge of all the earth does right.

You remember, Lot was Abraham's nephew. And when God revealed Abraham that he was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham began to intervene for what? His family. You remember how Abraham got God down to if there were just ten righteous, he'd spare those cities. And Abraham asked, shall not the judge of all the earth do right? Genesis 18 verse 25. And of course, the judge of all the earth is going to do what's right. God only does that which is right and holy.

And we should never complain and never criticize His judgments, even when His judgments affect our children and our families. Aaron was compelled to acknowledge the judgment of God, that God was righteous in taking his sons. And I'll just tell you this, folks. It's just simply God's mercy that he's allowed any of us to live and any of our children to live. And we better be thankful for the days and for the times that God has given us our children.

Lex Talionis: The Law of Retribution

Nadab and Abihu sinned by fire and died by fire, illustrating the biblical principle that the punishment fits the crime. God always makes the punishment match the sin.

Seventhly, very quickly, I want you to consider that the destruction of Nadab and Abihu is an example of the Lex Talionis of scripture. Lex Talionis is just simply Latin. for the law of retribution. What do I mean by the law of retribution? Listen carefully. Nadab and Abihu sinned by fire, and God judged and destroyed them, and they died by fire. You remember the passage, in fact, you'll read it a couple times, but in Exodus 21, verses 24 and 25, God says, an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

Now what God was demanding was that the punishment be made to fit the crime. God is a God of justice, and God always makes the punishment fit the crime. That's why he said in Galatians 6, 7, and 8, be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. He that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption. He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. So he says, don't be surprised that you reap exactly what you're going to sow. Because the lex talionis is not only in the Old Testament, it's in the New Testament as well. And Galatians 6, 7, 8 is an example of the lex talionis. That is the law of retribution where God makes the punishment fit the crime. We always reap exactly that which we sow. Those boys died, those boys sinned by fire. They died by fire. Eighthly, we must learn this. I want you to watch this. We must learn that the closer we get to the Lord, the more holy we must be.

Holiness Required for Nearness to God

The closer we get to the Lord, the more holy we must be. God will be sanctified in those who come near Him, requiring increasing holiness and obedience.

Go back to Leviticus 10 and look in verse three. Look what God says. Then Moses said unto Aaron, this is that that the Lord spake saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me. What? Nadab and Abihu were almost as close as you could get to the Lord at that point in time. Aaron was the closest. He was the high priest. You remember, Nadab was the eldest son, which meant when Aaron died, Nadab would have been next in line.

These boys should have been more holy than they were. God is going to be sanctified in those that serve Him. We're told in Hebrews chapter 12 and verse 14, Follow peace with all men, listen carefully, and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. Follow peace with all men and holiness with which no man shall see the Lord. As you mature and grow in your Christian life, you should become more holy, more godly, more obedient. And the closer you get to the Lord, the more holy you must be, because God is a holy God, and He's going to be sanctified those who come near unto Him. Which means, of course, if we want to be close to our Lord, we have to be holy, godly, submissive, and obedient individuals. The more holy, the closer our connection with Him. He's the one that makes us holy. God says, I will be sanctified in those that serve me, those that are near me. So the more closely we get to the Lord, the more holy we should be.

God's Word as a Two-Edged Sword

God's sword cuts both ways: the same fire that sanctified the sacrifice also consumed Nadab and Abihu. The gospel is a savor of life to believers and death to unbelievers; God is glorified in both salvation and judgment.

Ninthly, lastly, I want to point out, it should be evident from this passage, Leviticus 10, that God's sword has two edges. That means it cuts in two ways. In Hebrews 4, verses 12 and 13, God says this, For the word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing even to dividing asunder of joints and marrow in the soul of the spirit, and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart. Is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight, but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do?" Now listen to what he said, for the word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword. That two-edged sword, if I swing this way, it will cut you. If I come back this way, it will cut you as well.

supernaturally lit the fire on that altar and consumed the sacrifice. I think the fire that was acceptable unto God, the fire that sanctified the sacrifice and sanctify the service and sanctified Aaron as well pleasing to God. was also the same fire that God sent and consumed His sons because they failed to sanctify the Lord in their hearts and took upon themselves a self-willed worship. I want you to turn in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians chapter 2. Let me show you what I mean by a two-edged sword. 2 Corinthians chapter 2 2nd Corinthians chapter 2, and let's begin reading there with verse 14. 2nd Corinthians 2, verse 14.

Now I want you to watch carefully what the Apostle Paul says. 2nd Corinthians 2, verse 14. Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ. We always triumph. And make it manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place. Then Paul says this, for we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish. To the one where the savor of death unto death and to the other, the savor of life unto life and who is sufficient for these things. Now, I want you to know what the apostle Paul said. He says, God always makes us triumph in Christ. He says, we are a savor of life unto life to those that believe. But we're also the savor of death and the death of those who do not believe.

Do you realize the same gospel that draws sinners will also drive centers away? The same sun that melts the wax will harden the clay. God's Word is a double-edged sword. It will either draw you to Christ or it will drive you farther away because of your sin and your rebellion and your wickedness. Go back to Leviticus chapter 10. In light of this, again, look at verse 3. Leviticus 10 and verse 3.

Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is that that the Lord spake saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me. And before all the people, I will be glorified. Watch this. And Aaron held his peace. Do you know something? Those whom God saves will redound to His grace and mercy. Those who fail to believe and fail to repent will redound unto God's righteousness and justice. God's going to be glorified either in salvation or damnation, but He will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. Aaron could say nothing because he knew that Moses spoke the truth. God is glorified in the salvation of the righteous. And God is also glorified in the condemnation of the wicked. Do you remember in Revelation chapter 19 what the saints said when the wicked were judged? Hallelujah for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. God will be praised in life and in death.

Applications and Warnings

What seems minor to us may not be minor to God. Nadab and Abihu were struck down suddenly without time to repent, warning against presumptuous sin and the folly of delaying repentance.

Let me make just a couple of applications. The first one is this. I've asked people and I've heard people ask me and make a statement. I don't understand this. Can you explain this to me? How could God kill Nadab and Abihu just for bringing in strange fire? Well, first, I want you to understand their sins included far more than just strange fire. But I also want you to see what you may determine to be minor in your eyes may not be minor in the eyes of God. We are not the determiner of minor and major sins. God is the determiner of minor and major sins. Bishop Hall said it like this, it is a dangerous thing in the service of God to decline from his own institutions. We have to do with a God who is wise to prescribe his own worship just to require that which he has prescribed and powerful to revenge that which He is not prescribed. And that's true. That is true. Also in the lives of Nadab and Abihu, we also have an excellent example of the truth of Proverbs 29 and verse 1.

Let me just quote it. Where God said, He that being often reproved and hardeneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy. Now, I will be honest with you. I do not know how often or how frequently Nadab and Abihu were instructed. I do know that they were instructed and instructed well. I do know that for seven days, they probably went over everything time and time again before that eighth day when they had to offer the sacrifices. And what did God do? God cut them down quickly and suddenly.

I want you to stop and think about this. Nadab and Abihu did not have time to cry out. They did not have time to beg God for mercy. They did not even have time to say, Lord, forgive me. They died in the very act of their sin. They were struck instantly, divinely, supernaturally, miraculously. They had no time to cry for mercy and ask the Lord for forgiveness. It is true that God is long suffering to us word.

But sometimes he does make quick work with sinners and sentences executed speedily. And presumptuous sinners bring upon themselves a quick and sudden destruction. And God justly and righteously does not even allow them space to repent. Which brings me to this. I've heard so many people say, well, here's my plan. My plan is to live my life the way I please. And to do what I want to do and what thrills me.

And right before I die, I'm going to ask the Lord to save me. Oh? You may die like Nadab and Abihu. You may never get to cry for mercy.

Now is the time to repent. Now is the time to believe. Now is the time to serve Christ. Now is the time to live for Him. God gave us the example of Nadab and Abihu, not only for our instruction, but for our warning. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask for your divine help. Give us understanding. May we be warned. May we be instructed. May we be challenged, and Lord, may we become more holy, more godly, more obedient. And make sure, Father, that we give Thee that which Thou dost require and that which Thou dost demand in Your service and in Your worship. We praise Thee as the sovereign, holy, righteous God that Thou art. And we ask, Father, for Your grace in our lives. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Rebellion in Authority

Summary: Even lawfully appointed individuals in legitimate offices can act rebelliously against God or the people, becoming traitors to their oaths.

Evidence: The speaker discusses how Nadab and Abihu were genuine priests but rebelled, and applies this to civil rulers who violate the Constitution.

Will Worship

Summary: Inventing one's own mode of worship apart from God's command is a serious sin, equivalent to offering strange fire.

Evidence: The speaker defines will worship as 'a mode of worship which man chooses for himself independently of the revelation which God has given' and cites Colossians 2.

Limits of Parental Influence

Summary: No parent, regardless of office or godliness, can save or sanctify their children; each person must personally repent and believe.

Evidence: The speaker states, 'There's absolutely nothing that parents can do to save their children' and uses Aaron and Moses as examples.

Divine Justice and Retribution

Summary: God's judgments are righteous, and He often makes the punishment fit the crime, as seen in the lex talionis.

Evidence: The speaker explains that Nadab and Abihu sinned by fire and died by fire, citing Exodus 21 and Galatians 6.

Holiness and Nearness to God

Summary: Greater nearness to God demands greater holiness; God will be sanctified in those who serve Him.

Evidence: The speaker references Leviticus 10:3 and Hebrews 12:14 to emphasize that holiness is required to see the Lord.

The Dual Effect of God's Word

Summary: The same gospel that saves some hardens others; God is glorified both in salvation and in judgment.

Evidence: The speaker cites 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 and notes that Aaron held his peace because God is glorified in both outcomes.

Key Arguments

Rebellion can exist in lawfully ordained offices

Summary: Nadab and Abihu were legitimate priests, yet they rebelled. Similarly, civil rulers can violate their oaths and become traitors.

Evidence: The speaker states, 'Rebellion may exist in lawfully ordained offices and by lawfully appointed individuals' and discusses constitutional oaths.

Will worship is a grave sin

Summary: Adding human inventions to God's prescribed worship is treason and idolatry, as seen in Nadab and Abihu's strange fire.

Evidence: The speaker says, 'Will worship is strange fire that which God has commanded them not' and cites Colossians 2:23.

A holy office does not sanctify the officeholder

Summary: Neither Aaron's priesthood nor Moses' unique offices could save Nadab and Abihu; salvation is personal.

Evidence: The speaker argues, 'A holy office will not save or sanctify an unholy man, neither will it save or sanctify his unholy children.'

God's judgment is always righteous

Summary: Aaron was forbidden to mourn because God's judgment was just; we must always side with God even when it affects our family.

Evidence: The speaker says, 'When God judges our children, we must always side with the Lord' and references Genesis 18:25.

The punishment fits the crime

Summary: Nadab and Abihu sinned by fire and were destroyed by fire, illustrating the biblical law of retribution.

Evidence: The speaker explains lex talionis and cites Exodus 21:24-25 and Galatians 6:7-8.

Holiness increases with nearness to God

Summary: Those who serve God closely must be increasingly holy, as God will be sanctified in them.

Evidence: The speaker quotes Leviticus 10:3 and Hebrews 12:14.

God's Word brings life or death

Summary: The same gospel is a savor of life to believers and death to unbelievers; God is glorified in both.

Evidence: The speaker cites 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 and notes that Aaron held his peace because God is glorified either way.

Presumptuous sin leads to sudden destruction

Summary: Nadab and Abihu were struck down instantly without time to repent, warning against delaying repentance.

Evidence: The speaker says, 'They died in the very act of their sin' and quotes Proverbs 29:1.

Scripture References

Leviticus 10:1-3

Context: The account of Nadab and Abihu offering strange fire and being consumed by fire from the Lord.

Hebrews 10:1-4

Context: The law is a shadow of good things to come, but the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins.

Psalm 82:6-7

Context: God tells judges they are 'gods' but will die like men if they abuse their authority.

2 Kings 11:17

Context: Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people.

2 Chronicles 23:16

Context: Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, the people, and the king that they should be the Lord's people.

1 Samuel 12:24-25

Context: Samuel warns that if the people do wickedly, both they and their king will be consumed.

Psalm 2:1-3

Context: The kings and rulers take counsel against the Lord and His anointed, wanting to break free from God's authority.

Psalm 94:20

Context: The throne of iniquity, which frames mischief by law, cannot have fellowship with God.

Colossians 2:18, 23

Context: Paul warns against voluntary humility, worship of angels, and will worship, which have a show of wisdom but are not from God.

1 Samuel 13:8-14

Context: King Saul offered a burnt offering without authority and was told his kingdom would not continue.

Numbers 3:1-4

Context: Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord and had no children.

1 Chronicles 24:2

Context: Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children.

Psalm 55:23

Context: Deceitful men shall not live out half their days.

Jeremiah 22:28-30

Context: God declares Coniah childless and that none of his seed will prosper on David's throne.

Deuteronomy 32:5

Context: Moses was king in Jeshurun.

Deuteronomy 18:15

Context: Moses prophesied that God would raise up a prophet like him.

Exodus 21:24-25

Context: The law of retribution: eye for eye, tooth for tooth, burning for burning.

Galatians 6:7-8

Context: Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap; sowing to the flesh reaps corruption.

Hebrews 12:14

Context: Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

2 Corinthians 2:14-16

Context: We are a sweet savor of Christ: to the saved, a savor of life; to the perishing, a savor of death.

Historical References

United States Constitution, Article 6, Paragraph 2

Context: The speaker quotes the Supremacy Clause to argue that the federal government is bound by the Constitution and that rulers who violate it are traitors.

Thomas Jefferson

Context: Jefferson is quoted as saying, 'bind them down with the chains of the Constitution.'

Bishop Hall

Context: Quoted: 'It is a dangerous thing in the service of God to decline from his own institutions.'

Important Quotes

Rebellion may exist in lawfully ordained offices and by lawfully appointed individuals.

Significance: This is a key thesis of the sermon, emphasizing that even legitimate authorities can act rebelliously.

Will worship is strange fire that which God has commanded them not.

Significance: Defines will worship as the modern equivalent of Nadab and Abihu's sin.

A holy office will not save or sanctify an unholy man, neither will it save or sanctify his unholy children.

Significance: A central lesson from the passage, stressing personal responsibility over inherited position.

When God judges our children, we must always side with the Lord.

Significance: A difficult but necessary application of acknowledging God's righteous judgment.

Nadab and Abihu sinned by fire, and God judged and destroyed them, and they died by fire.

Significance: Illustrates the lex talionis principle that punishment fits the crime.

The closer we get to the Lord, the more holy we must be.

Significance: Summarizes the requirement of increasing holiness for those who serve God.

God's going to be glorified either in salvation or damnation, but He will be glorified.

Significance: Highlights the dual outcome of God's revelation and the certainty of His glory.

They died in the very act of their sin.

Significance: Warns of the suddenness of divine judgment without opportunity for repentance.

Discussion Questions

In what ways might we be guilty of 'will worship' today—adding our own preferences to God's prescribed worship?

Context: The speaker defines will worship as inventing modes of worship independently of God's revelation.

How should we respond when we see leaders (civil or spiritual) acting rebelliously against God's commands?

Context: The sermon discusses rebellion in lawfully ordained offices and the covenantal nature of government.

What does it mean to 'side with the Lord' when He judges someone close to us, and how can we practically do that?

Context: Aaron was compelled to acknowledge God's righteous judgment on his sons without mourning.

How does the principle of lex talionis (the punishment fits the crime) shape our understanding of God's justice?

Context: The speaker explains that Nadab and Abihu sinned by fire and died by fire.

Why is it dangerous to assume we can delay repentance until later in life?

Context: Nadab and Abihu were struck down suddenly without time to repent, illustrating the folly of presumptuous sin.

How can we cultivate greater holiness as we draw nearer to God in service and worship?

Context: The speaker emphasizes that God will be sanctified in those who come near Him.

In what ways have you experienced the 'two-edged sword' nature of God's Word—either drawing you closer or revealing hardness of heart?

Context: The same gospel is a savor of life to some and death to others.

How does the failure of the Levitical priesthood point us to the sufficiency of Christ's priesthood?

Context: The speaker notes that the Levitical priesthood could not make anyone perfect, pointing to Jesus.

Applications

Examine Worship Practices

Summary: Evaluate whether any elements of worship are based on human preference rather than God's command, and remove anything that constitutes 'strange fire.'

Evidence: The speaker warns against will worship and innovation in God's service.

Respect God's Prescribed Order

Summary: Recognize that God has ordained specific roles and responsibilities; do not assume authority or roles not given by God.

Evidence: Nadab and Abihu assumed the high priest's role and were judged.

Trust God's Righteous Judgments

Summary: When God brings judgment or difficult circumstances, especially involving family, acknowledge His righteousness and do not complain.

Evidence: Aaron held his peace and was forbidden to mourn.

Pursue Personal Holiness

Summary: As you grow closer to God, strive for greater holiness, knowing that God will be sanctified in those who serve Him.

Evidence: The speaker cites Leviticus 10:3 and Hebrews 12:14.

Repent Without Delay

Summary: Do not presume upon God's patience; repent and believe now, as judgment can come suddenly without opportunity for repentance.

Evidence: Nadab and Abihu died in the act of sin without time to cry for mercy.

Recognize the Limits of Parental Influence

Summary: While parents should teach and pray, they cannot save their children; each person must personally repent and believe.

Evidence: The speaker states that even Aaron and Moses could not save Nadab and Abihu.

Submit to God's Authority in All Spheres

Summary: Whether in civil or spiritual matters, recognize that all authority is covenantal and accountable to God; obey God rather than men when commands conflict.

Evidence: The speaker discusses the covenants in 2 Kings 11:17 and the rebellion of rulers.

Accept the Dual Effect of the Gospel

Summary: Understand that the same gospel message will either draw people to Christ or harden them; do not be surprised by either response.

Evidence: The speaker explains the two-edged sword from 2 Corinthians 2:14-16.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-04T21:38:06Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-05T22:27:52Z

Clean Transcript

Strange Fire - Part 2 of 2

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

All right, let's open our Bibles today, if you would please, to the book of Leviticus chapter 10. Leviticus chapter 10. Once again, we're going to read the first three verses. This is the second part of the message that I began last week, which I entitled Strange Fire. Most of the points will be today. So I would encourage you to look in Leviticus chapter 10 and let's begin reading with verse one. And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I'll be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. Now we've been looking at the deaths of Nadab and Abihu and considering the implication of their sins when they offered strange fire unto the Lord.
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You'll remember I pointed out last week the word strange is the Hebrew word zur which literally means strange or foreign and the word is even used for a prostitute in the Old Testament which who of course would be a stranger or foreigner to the family relation. And of course The word strange could also be understood as being an unauthorized fire. And I tried to summarize for you last week the sins of Nadab and Abihu, and I said this, that by demonstrating that their sins were, and included, the sins of offering a strange fire, that is, one that was not taken from the altar which God himself had miraculously and supernaturally kindled, They got a common fire, but they also lifted themselves up with pride.
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They rashly rushed into the holy place where only Aaron was to go. They assumed a role. They assumed responsibilities that was not theirs. They added to the worship of God and all of this in plain disobedience to the very specific command of God. So I began to ask this question. What are we to learn from Leviticus chapter 10? I answered only two points last week. The very first one is this. We have to learn and see the failure of the Levitical priesthood from its very inception. I took you back to the book of Leviticus chapter 8 and showed you there where Moses and Aaron and Nadab and Abihu or particularly Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Ithamar and Eleazar had just spent seven days being sanctified and consecrated.
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When you get to chapter eight, you have the eighth day there where everything is laid upon, laid out. And when you get to chapter nine, it is where the sacrifices are given. That is the eighth day. They're laid out upon the altar. And in the very last passage in Leviticus chapter nine, God sends fire from heaven and consumes the sacrifice and ignites the fire on the altar. When you get to chapter 10, you have the deaths of Nadab and Abihu. So the very first day that Nadab and Abihu served as priests, that very same day that God killed them.
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So we therefore see the failure of the Levitical priesthood at its inception. Now I read a number of passages from the book of Hebrews Let me just read one again from Leviticus 10 verses 1 through 4. Here the Bible says this, For the law, having a shadow of good things to come and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they have ceased to have been offered because that the worshipers once purged should have no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices, There is remembrance of sin made every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. So we see the uselessness on the one hand and the failure on the other hand of the Levitical priesthood because it could not bring anyone to perfection. It really could not bring anyone to God. What it did do in all of those sacrifices and all of those ceremonies It pointed to the one true and living God, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Lamb of God, who does indeed take away our sins.
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And then the second point that I made last week is this. We were to learn and to observe that those in positions of authority should not only know their places, but their responsibilities. Because Nadab and Abihu, although they were priests, they were not the high priest. They did not know their place. They did not know their responsibility. and consequently God kill them. How many tyrants both civil and spiritual must fall before individuals realize that they are not God and they cannot do as they please and they're required of God to be under authority themselves and to do only that which God has given them the authority to do.
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One of my favorite passages is found in Psalm 82 verses six and seven, which is a passage directed to the judges. And God says this, I have said, you are gods and all of your children, the most high, but you shall die like men and fall like one of the princes. So God is saying then that these who are in positions of authority, and of course they abuse that position. Then of course, they're going to fall. They're going to die like men.
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So thirdly today, we want to begin by considering another fundamental truth that is often ignored. And that is this. That rebellion may exist in lawfully ordained offices and by lawfully appointed individuals. Rebellion may exist in lawfully ordained offices and in lawfully appointed individuals. Nadab and Abihu were real, genuine priests. They really, genuinely held an office. It was given to them. It's imperative for you and I to remember when I use the word government today, I'm not just necessarily talking about civil government, but I'm talking about all kinds of government. When we talk about self-government, or family government, or church government, or civil government, we have to understand that government is covenantal in nature. And when government is covenantal in nature, it means that God has ordained government and God holds all parties responsible. Now we're singling out civil government and spiritual government, but I want you to think about this in second Kings chapter 11 and verse 17.
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Jehoiada, who was the high priest, is making some covenants. Don't you listen to this verse. And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people. That they should be the Lord's people and between the king and the people also. So there are two covenants that have been made. One between the Lord, the king, and the people. In that covenant, the king agrees to be God's king and the people agree to be God's people. In the second covenant, There is a covenant made between the king and the people. In that covenant, the king agrees to rule faithfully and the people agree to obey him as long as he does.
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Now you find the same truth in 2 Chronicles 23 and verse 16. Let me just read it. And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, that is God, and between all the people and between the king that they should be the Lord's people.
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Now I want you to understand that those who are in positions of authority, whether it is a spiritual ruler like Nadab and Abihu or whether it is a civil ruler like any king or any president or any congressman. I want you to understand that a civil ruler or spiritual ruler may rebel in his relationship either to God or to the people because they're two distinct covenants. So rebellion may be in the lawfully appointed individual either in relationship or in relationship to God or to the people. Likewise, the people also may rebel in their relationship to God or in relationship to their ruler. You remember in 1 Samuel chapter 8, Israel was demanding a king and God eventually gave them Saul to be king. I want you to hold Leviticus 10. We're coming back there. but I do want you to turn right over to 1st Samuel chapter 12 and let's begin looking at verse 24 and let me show you what God says in reference not only to the ruler but to the people as well 1st Samuel chapter 12 and let's begin reading there with verse 24 watch
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carefully 1st Samuel chapter 12 and verse 24 Samuel is speaking to the people and he says this only fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all your heart, for consider how great things he hath done for you. But if you shall do wickedly, you shall be consumed, both you and your king." Now, if both the king and the people may be consumed, it means, therefore, that they both may do wickedly and both may be guilty of rebellion or treason.
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What we tend to forget is this, that our rulers are sinners, that our rulers are really wicked. In fact, the Bible emphasizes the fact that those who are in positions of authority have a greater tendency to rebel than those who are not in positions of authority. For instance, Psalm 2 elucidates this. If you want to turn to Psalm 2 and look if you would please beginning there with verse 1. Psalm 2 and verse 1. And notice if you would the questions that are asked at the very beginning. Psalm 2, look in verse 1.
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Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing? So very obviously the people can imagine a vain thing. The people can rebel. The people can transgress. But watch verse 2. The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed saying, let us break their bands asunder and cast their cords away from us. What are the rulers saying?
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We don't want to be bound by God. We don't want to be limited by God. We don't want to be under God's authority. We want to be our own authority. We want to do our own things. So civil rulers may rebel to the extent, listen carefully, that they become a god to themselves and thus a rival to the one true and the living God. They can become so wicked that Psalm 94 and verse 20 ask this question, shall the throne of iniquity, that is a wicked civil government, shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee which frameth mischief by law or make sin legal? So the question is, ask Will a wicked, civil, reprobate, rebellious government, will it, can it have fellowship with God when that wicked, rebellious government or ruler does that and makes legal that which God has said is wicked and wrong?
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And the answer, of course, no. It is not in fellowship with God, nor can it be.
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Now, let me make a statement and I want you to listen carefully because I realize there are people who stand on both sides of the issue. So whether or not an individual agrees with the establishment of the United States Constitution or not, one thing is for certain. In its establishment, it was supposed to be the document that bound down the federal government. Now I want you to listen carefully to Article 6 and Paragraph 2. the Constitution, this Constitution, and the laws of the United States, which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties which shall be made under the authority of the United States, and by the way, the authority of the United States is the Constitution, listen carefully, shall be the supreme law of the land, and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution of laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.
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Now the point I'm making is very simple. The federal government is to be bound by the Constitution. It was Thomas Jefferson who said, bind them down with the chains of the Constitution. I know and I understand that only the Lord can fix our problems. I understand that. I understand that our problems are primarily spiritual. But have you ever stopped to think? if our government and if our rulers actually obeyed the Constitution and were actually limited according to the Constitution. I'm not saying that we would be problem free.
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We certainly would not be. But we would have a whole lot less problems than we have today because there would be a limitation. The point I want you to understand is this. You may have a lawfully appointed office. and there may be a lawfully elected individual in that office and that lawful office and that lawfully elected individual may turn around and act unlawfully and thus become a tyrant and a traitor and treasonous because that individual swore an oath to uphold the Constitution before he ever took the office. So all of these rulers, then civil rulers, who are violating the Constitution are traitors. They're treasonous individuals. They are violating the oath that they took. Any spiritual leader, likewise, who violates the Word of God is violating an oath in that sense of the word.
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So obviously, the third point that I'm trying to make is very clear. Very simple from scripture, a lawfully elected office and a lawfully appointed individual may act rebelliously and treasonously and be classified as a traitor before God and before man. Here's the fourth point I want to emphasize. One of the main sins of Nadab and Abihu consisted in what I would call will worship. You know, I ask in my introductory part of my first message, is it possible to commit the sin of offering strange fire today?
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And the answer is going to come back, yes. Because you see, strange fire is anything that the Lord has not commanded in His worship and in His service. What did Nadab and Abihu do? They offered a strange fire. What was their strange fire? Their strange fire was their own innovation. It was their own invention. They did not use that which God supernaturally ignited. They went and got a common fire or an unauthorized fire. They didn't see anything wrong with it. I mean, fire is fire, is it not? That was their reasoning. So they just simply invented this fire. You see, will worship signifies simply a mode of worship which man chooses for himself. independently of the revelation which God has given. So will worship is strange fire that which God has commanded them not.
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Will worship is the will of man dictating in spiritual things, which few have ever really considered to be a sin, but yet that's exactly what it is. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Colossians chapter two. Colossians chapter two, and let's begin reading there with verse 18. Colossians chapter two. First of all, look at verse 18, then we'll skip down to verse 23. Colossians two and verse 18.
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Notice what the apostle Paul writes. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels. intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind." Now, why would anyone want to worship angels? Why would anyone want to worship anything other than what is revealed in the Word of God? Well, the answer is because someone has decided, this is the way I think folks ought to worship. Instead of listening to God, it's will worship.
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Skip down to verse 23. He says, which things that have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship and humility and neglecting of the body, not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh. But notice he says, which things indeed have a show of wisdom in will worship. So will worship then always leads to a false humility and neglect of the body. Will worship is that which goes beyond the word of God. Will worship is that which man adds to the Word of God.
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What he thinks is aesthetic and beautiful and nice and pleasing, it's what he wants. So will worship is trying to worship God in your own way. It is you trying to prescribe the correct way to worship God for yourself or what you think would be pleasing to God. And I want you to understand something, to reject God's plain commands and substitute what you desire and what you want for God's worship is treason in the highest order. It is idolatry because you're elevating yourself above God and you're saying God I don't really care what you have directed in this area I want this and I think this is pleasing and I think you should accept this.
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God has never ever left such an important matter to man. God is always prescribed the way that He is to be worshipped and the way He is to be served. The presence of God must have full power and full sway and flesh must be solid before Him. We cannot attempt to worship God or serve God in any way that we please. We must worship Him and serve Him in the way that He has ordained. When we fail to do so, we're rebelling against God. We have to remember that worship is for Him.
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It is not necessarily for us. And when we begin to innovate and invent and bring into God's worship that which we please and that which we like, we're signing our own death warrant, just like Nadab and Abihu who brought destruction upon themselves. I want you to think about King Saul for a moment. If you would turn back in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 13, I'm talking about people who do things they have no authority to do, especially in relationship to the worship of God. So if you will go back to 1 Samuel chapter 13, and let's begin reading there with verse 8, and look what happened to King Saul. 1 Samuel chapter 13, watch verse 8. I believe that's correct, let's see. Oh, I'm in 1 Kings, that was my problem. 1 Samuel chapter 13 it is, and verse 8. Watch carefully. And he tarried seven days according to the set time that Samuel had appointed. But Samuel came not to Gilgal, and the people were scattered from him from Saul. And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings.
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And he, king Saul, offered the burnt offering. And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came, and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash, therefore said I, The Philistines will come down upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication of the Lord. I forced myself, therefore, and I offered a burnt offering. And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly. Thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord by God, which he commanded thee.
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For now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever, but now thy kingdom shall not continue. The Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over a people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord God commanded thee." Saul, like Nadab and Abihu, lost not only his position, he lost his kingdom, and he ultimately lost his life. Why? because he wanted to worship God in the way that he wanted to worship God. Instead of waiting for Samuel, Saul had absolutely no authority to do what he did.
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And so he began to invent, he said, this is an emergency. I've got to do this. Samuel's not here. And Saul was simply wiped out. Do you realize, like Saul, now I want you to listen to this, like Saul, Nadab and Abihu, Not only lost their lives, they lost their progeny. Twice it is recorded in scripture. Listen carefully. Twice it is recorded in scripture that Nadab and Abihu had no children.
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Let me read this from Numbers 3 verses 1 through 4. Listen carefully. These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the Lord spake with Moses in Mount Sinai. And these are the names of the sons of Aaron, Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office. And Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord when they offered strange fire before the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai and they had no children. And Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father. Note they had no children. Now in 1 Chronicles 24 and verse 2 the Bible says this, but Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children. Therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office. So God basically not only cut off Nadab and Abihu, He cut them off before, if they were married, before children were born. And twice God emphasizes that they had no children.
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Do you realize that God frequently makes sure that the wicked does not reproduce? Oftentimes He cuts them off in the prime of life. The Bible says in Psalm 55 and verse 23, and deceitful men shall not live out half their days." What does that mean? It means God cuts them down in the prime of life. Let me show you a passage. I want you to look in Jeremiah chapter 22. I want to show you about Coniah who was a wicked, wicked ungodly man. And I want you to notice what God says concerning Coniah. Jeremiah chapter 22 and let's begin reading there verse 28. Jeremiah 22 And by the way, Coniah was a king, Jeconiah. But look, if you would, Jeremiah 22, verse 28, God says, Is this man, Coniah, a despised, broken idol?
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Is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? Wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not? O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord, write ye this man childless. A man that shall not prosper in his days, for no man of his seed shall prosper sitting upon the throne of David and ruling any more in Judah." What did God do? God not only wiped out Coniah, He wiped out his posterity.
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Just like He did Nadab and Abihu. I want you to understand something. Those who are in a lawfully elected office may rebel against God themselves. Those who are in a lawfully elected office, spiritual or civil, may be guilty of will worship, and God wipes them out. Let me give you the fifth thing I want to cover today, and that is this. We must learn from the deaths of Nadab and Abihu that a holy office will not sanctify an unholy man, neither will it save or sanctify his unholy children."
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Let me say that again. A holy office will not save or sanctify an unholy man, neither will it save or sanctify his unholy children. There is no ruler There is no position of authority that will be protected by his office or by his position. Certainly, if anyone would have ever been protected by an office or by his position, it should have been Nadab and Abihu. You have to remember that Nadab and Abihu were not only sons of Aaron, the high priest, They were also the nephews of Moses. Now, Moses was a unique individual. Did you know that Moses held three offices? Just like our Lord. Moses was prophet, priest, and king. The Bible tells us in Deuteronomy 32 and verse 5, talking about Moses, and he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together. So God identifies Moses as a king. And then in Deuteronomy 18 and verse 15, Moses said this, The Lord by God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee by brethren like unto me, and to him shall you hearken.
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So Moses is a king, Moses is a prophet, and would you like to guess who it was that sanctified and consecrated Aaron and his sons. It was Moses. Moses was a Levite. Moses was the one that offered the sacrifices for Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. So Moses was prophet, priest, and king. So Nadab and Abihu were not only sons of Aaron, they were nephews of Moses who held three offices. So if anyone was ever going to be sanctified or saved because of their office or because of some ruler in the office, it should have been Nadab and Abihu. But they were not saved.
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I want you to learn something. Listen carefully. As difficult as it is. We must learn that there's absolutely that absolutely nothing that parents can do to save their children. Even when those children are grown. Yes. We may teach them. Yes. We may pray for them. Yes. We may do our best to guide and direct them, but the truth is we cannot save them. There's not one of us that can save his own child. We cannot make our children believe. We cannot make our children have faith. We cannot make our children do what is right. Aaron's sons were not only grown, they had been instructed and taught.
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Moreover, these boys had been set aside for special service unto God. They had just gone through seven days of consecration and sanctification. These boys had seen the miracles of God. Nadab and Abihu had heard the voice of God. And yet, they died in God's divine displeasure. I frequently tell people that the two most difficult lessons that I've learned in nearly 50 years of preaching are these. You cannot help everybody. Yet you can't. You want to help them. But there are some people who refuse to be instructed. They refuse to be helped. They refuse to listen. They refuse to obey. They're just some people you cannot help. And the second lesson is even more difficult. And sometimes those you cannot help are your own family. I dare say that probably everyone in this assembly, everybody in this room has family members that are unconverted. You have family members that are unsafe. You have family members that what we would call black sheep.
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And you may witness to them, you may talk to them. You may endeavor to help them, but it's like water off a duck's back. My children, my in-laws, my grandchildren will not be saved because I'm a pastor. They will not be saved because I'm endeavoring to live a holy, godly, obedient life. No, the truth is they must personally repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ And if they refuse, if they do not, there's absolutely nothing that I can do for them. Moreover, they must live a life of obedience.
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But if they do not, I cannot make them. Only the grace and mercy of God can save them. And only the grace and mercy of God can make them obedient. You say, do you pray for your family? Of course I pray for them. I try to do what I can to influence them, but I can't save them. And neither can you save your own. If any office or if any religious leader in an office was going to be able to help or save anybody, surely it would have been Aaron and Moses helping to save Nadab and Abihu.
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But no, they could not. There's not an office that can save or sanctify an unholy man. There's not a godly man who can save or sanctify his unholy children. It's absolutely impossible. We need the grace and mercy of God. That's exactly what we're being taught in Leviticus chapter 10. Sixthly, Aaron was compelled to acknowledge the righteousness of God's judgment upon his sons. I want you to go back to Leviticus chapter 10. I want you to see this. Aaron was compelled to acknowledge the righteousness of God's judgment upon his sons. Look in Leviticus chapter 10 beginning there in verse 3. Leviticus 10 verse 3. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me. And before all the people all be glorified, and Aaron held his peace. And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel, the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near and carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp. So they went near and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as Moses said.
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And Moses said unto Aaron and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes, lest you die. And lest wrath come upon all the people, but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the Lord hath kindled. And you shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest you die. For the anointing oil of the Lord is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses. What do I mean when I say that Aaron was compelled to acknowledge the righteous judgment of God upon his sons? God says, Aaron, you can't mourn for them. They were wicked. I judged them. I destroyed them. Here's another hard lesson. Are you listening? When God judges our children, we must always side with the Lord. As difficult as it may be, as grieved as we will be, and as humiliated as we shall be, we must always confess and acknowledge that the judge of all the earth does right.
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You remember, Lot was Abraham's nephew. And when God revealed Abraham that he was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham began to intervene for what? His family. You remember how Abraham got God down to if there were just ten righteous, he'd spare those cities. And Abraham asked, shall not the judge of all the earth do right? Genesis 18 verse 25. And of course, the judge of all the earth is going to do what's right. God only does that which is right and holy.
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And we should never complain and never criticize His judgments, even when His judgments affect our children and our families. Aaron was compelled to acknowledge the judgment of God, that God was righteous in taking his sons. And I'll just tell you this, folks. It's just simply God's mercy that he's allowed any of us to live and any of our children to live. And we better be thankful for the days and for the times that God has given us our children.
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Seventhly, very quickly, I want you to consider that the destruction of Nadab and Abihu is an example of the Lex Talionis of scripture. Lex Talionis is just simply Latin. for the law of retribution. What do I mean by the law of retribution? Listen carefully. Nadab and Abihu sinned by fire, and God judged and destroyed them, and they died by fire. You remember the passage, in fact, you'll read it a couple times, but in Exodus 21, verses 24 and 25, God says, an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
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Now what God was demanding was that the punishment be made to fit the crime. God is a God of justice, and God always makes the punishment fit the crime. That's why he said in Galatians 6, 7, and 8, be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. He that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption. He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. So he says, don't be surprised that you reap exactly what you're going to sow.
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Because the lex talionis is not only in the Old Testament, it's in the New Testament as well. And Galatians 6, 7, 8 is an example of the lex talionis. That is the law of retribution where God makes the punishment fit the crime. We always reap exactly that which we sow. Those boys died, those boys sinned by fire. They died by fire. Eighthly, we must learn this. I want you to watch this. We must learn that the closer we get to the Lord, the more holy we must be.
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Go back to Leviticus 10 and look in verse three. Look what God says. Then Moses said unto Aaron, this is that that the Lord spake saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me. What? Nadab and Abihu were almost as close as you could get to the Lord at that point in time. Aaron was the closest. He was the high priest. You remember, Nadab was the eldest son, which meant when Aaron died, Nadab would have been next in line.
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These boys should have been more holy than they were. God is going to be sanctified in those that serve Him. We're told in Hebrews chapter 12 and verse 14, Follow peace with all men, listen carefully, and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. Follow peace with all men and holiness with which no man shall see the Lord. As you mature and grow in your Christian life, you should become more holy, more godly, more obedient. And the closer you get to the Lord, the more holy you must be, because God is a holy God, and He's going to be sanctified those who come near unto Him. Which means, of course, if we want to be close to our Lord, we have to be holy, godly, submissive, and obedient individuals. The more holy, the closer our connection with Him. He's the one that makes us holy. God says, I will be sanctified in those that serve me, those that are near me. So the more closely we get to the Lord, the more holy we should be.
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Ninthly, lastly, I want to point out, it should be evident from this passage, Leviticus 10, that God's sword has two edges. That means it cuts in two ways. In Hebrews 4, verses 12 and 13, God says this, For the word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing even to dividing asunder of joints and marrow in the soul of the spirit, and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart.
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Is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight, but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do?" Now listen to what he said, for the word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword. That two-edged sword, if I swing this way, it will cut you. If I come back this way, it will cut you as well.
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supernaturally lit the fire on that altar and consumed the sacrifice. I think the fire that was acceptable unto God, the fire that sanctified the sacrifice and sanctify the service and sanctified Aaron as well pleasing to God. was also the same fire that God sent and consumed His sons because they failed to sanctify the Lord in their hearts and took upon themselves a self-willed worship. I want you to turn in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians chapter 2.
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Let me show you what I mean by a two-edged sword. 2 Corinthians chapter 2 2nd Corinthians chapter 2, and let's begin reading there with verse 14. 2nd Corinthians 2, verse 14.
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Now I want you to watch carefully what the Apostle Paul says. 2nd Corinthians 2, verse 14.
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Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ. We always triumph. And make it manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place. Then Paul says this, for we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish. To the one where the savor of death unto death and to the other, the savor of life unto life and who is sufficient for these things. Now, I want you to know what the apostle Paul said. He says, God always makes us triumph in Christ. He says, we are a savor of life unto life to those that believe. But we're also the savor of death and the death of those who do not believe.
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Do you realize the same gospel that draws sinners will also drive centers away? The same sun that melts the wax will harden the clay. God's Word is a double-edged sword. It will either draw you to Christ or it will drive you farther away because of your sin and your rebellion and your wickedness. Go back to Leviticus chapter 10. In light of this, again, look at verse 3. Leviticus 10 and verse 3.
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Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is that that the Lord spake saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me. And before all the people, I will be glorified. Watch this. And Aaron held his peace. Do you know something? Those whom God saves will redound to His grace and mercy. Those who fail to believe and fail to repent will redound unto God's righteousness and justice. God's going to be glorified either in salvation or damnation, but He will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. Aaron could say nothing because he knew that Moses spoke the truth. God is glorified in the salvation of the righteous. And God is also glorified in the condemnation of the wicked. Do you remember in Revelation chapter 19 what the saints said when the wicked were judged? Hallelujah for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. God will be praised in life and in death.
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Let me make just a couple of applications. The first one is this. I've asked people and I've heard people ask me and make a statement. I don't understand this. Can you explain this to me? How could God kill Nadab and Abihu just for bringing in strange fire? Well, first, I want you to understand their sins included far more than just strange fire. But I also want you to see what you may determine to be minor in your eyes may not be minor in the eyes of God. We are not the determiner of minor and major sins. God is the determiner of minor and major sins. Bishop Hall said it like this, it is a dangerous thing in the service of God to decline from his own institutions. We have to do with a God who is wise to prescribe his own worship just to require that which he has prescribed and powerful to revenge that which He is not prescribed. And that's true. That is true. Also in the lives of Nadab and Abihu, we also have an excellent example of the truth of Proverbs 29 and verse 1.
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Let me just quote it. Where God said, He that being often reproved and hardeneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy.
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Now, I will be honest with you. I do not know how often or how frequently Nadab and Abihu were instructed. I do know that they were instructed and instructed well. I do know that for seven days, they probably went over everything time and time again before that eighth day when they had to offer the sacrifices. And what did God do? God cut them down quickly and suddenly.
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I want you to stop and think about this. Nadab and Abihu did not have time to cry out. They did not have time to beg God for mercy. They did not even have time to say, Lord, forgive me. They died in the very act of their sin. They were struck instantly, divinely, supernaturally, miraculously. They had no time to cry for mercy and ask the Lord for forgiveness. It is true that God is long suffering to us word.
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But sometimes he does make quick work with sinners and sentences executed speedily. And presumptuous sinners bring upon themselves a quick and sudden destruction. And God justly and righteously does not even allow them space to repent. Which brings me to this. I've heard so many people say, well, here's my plan. My plan is to live my life the way I please. And to do what I want to do and what thrills me.
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And right before I die, I'm going to ask the Lord to save me. Oh? You may die like Nadab and Abihu. You may never get to cry for mercy.
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Now is the time to repent. Now is the time to believe. Now is the time to serve Christ. Now is the time to live for Him. God gave us the example of Nadab and Abihu, not only for our instruction, but for our warning. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask for your divine help. Give us understanding. May we be warned. May we be instructed. May we be challenged, and Lord, may we become more holy, more godly, more obedient. And make sure, Father, that we give Thee that which Thou dost require and that which Thou dost demand in Your service and in Your worship. We praise Thee as the sovereign, holy, righteous God that Thou art. And we ask, Father, for Your grace in our lives. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-04T21:38:06Z

Strange Fire - Part 2 of 2

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

In this second part of the sermon, Pastor John Weaver continues his exposition of Leviticus 10, drawing lessons from the deaths of Nadab and Abihu. He emphasizes that rebellion can exist even in lawfully ordained offices, that will worship—adding human innovations to God's prescribed worship—is a serious sin, and that a holy office cannot sanctify an unholy person or their children. He also highlights the lex talionis (law of retribution), the necessity of holiness when drawing near to God, and the dual nature of God's Word as a two-edged sword that brings either life or death. The sermon concludes with urgent applications about the danger of presumptuous sin and the need for immediate repentance.

Introduction and Review

Rebellion in Lawfully Ordained Offices

carefully 1st Samuel chapter 12 and verse 24 Samuel is speaking to the people and he says this

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 12:24-25

only fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all your heart, for consider how great things he hath done for you. But if

Will Worship as Strange Fire

One of the main sins of Nadab and Abihu was will worship—worship devised by man independently of God's revelation. This is treason and idolatry, as God alone prescribes how He is to be worshipped.

Scripture Reading — Colossians 2:18, 23

Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels. intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind."

A Holy Office Cannot Sanctify an Unholy Man

No office or position can save or sanctify an unholy person or their children. Even Aaron and Moses could not save Nadab and Abihu; salvation requires personal repentance and faith.

Acknowledging God's Righteous Judgment

Aaron was compelled to acknowledge the righteousness of God's judgment on his sons, not mourning for them. When God judges our children, we must side with the Lord and confess He does right.

Lex Talionis: The Law of Retribution

Nadab and Abihu sinned by fire and died by fire, illustrating the biblical principle that the punishment fits the crime. God always makes the punishment match the sin.

Holiness Required for Nearness to God

The closer we get to the Lord, the more holy we must be. God will be sanctified in those who come near Him, requiring increasing holiness and obedience.

God's Word as a Two-Edged Sword

Applications and Warnings

What seems minor to us may not be minor to God. Nadab and Abihu were struck down suddenly without time to repent, warning against presumptuous sin and the folly of delaying repentance.

And right before I die, I'm going to ask the Lord to save me. Oh? You may die like Nadab and Abihu. You may never get to cry for mercy.

Strange Fire - Part 2 of 2

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	y66BQ11LCdw
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Exodus: Bondage, Deliverance, and Passover: The Superiority of Christ
Genre	Sermon
Date	2013-10-17
Dictation Name
Book	Book 191: Strange Fire — Chapter 2
Source Timed Segments	64

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review: Recap of the first sermon: Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire, an unauthorized fire not taken from the altar, and their sins included pride, rushing into the holy place, assuming unauthorized roles, and disobedience.
Rebellion in Lawfully Ordained Offices: Rebellion can exist in lawfully appointed individuals and offices. Government is covenantal, and rulers or people can rebel against God or each other. Civil rulers who violate their constitutional oaths are traitors.
Will Worship as Strange Fire: One of the main sins of Nadab and Abihu was will worship—worship devised by man independently of God's revelation. This is treason and idolatry, as God alone prescribes how He is to be worshipped.
A Holy Office Cannot Sanctify an Unholy Man: No office or position can save or sanctify an unholy person or their children. Even Aaron and Moses could not save Nadab and Abihu; salvation requires personal repentance and faith.
Acknowledging God's Righteous Judgment: Aaron was compelled to acknowledge the righteousness of God's judgment on his sons, not mourning for them. When God judges our children, we must side with the Lord and confess He does right.
Lex Talionis: The Law of Retribution: Nadab and Abihu sinned by fire and died by fire, illustrating the biblical principle that the punishment fits the crime. God always makes the punishment match the sin.
Holiness Required for Nearness to God: The closer we get to the Lord, the more holy we must be. God will be sanctified in those who come near Him, requiring increasing holiness and obedience.
God's Word as a Two-Edged Sword: God's sword cuts both ways: the same fire that sanctified the sacrifice also consumed Nadab and Abihu. The gospel is a savor of life to believers and death to unbelievers; God is glorified in both salvation and judgment.
Applications and Warnings: What seems minor to us may not be minor to God. Nadab and Abihu were struck down suddenly without time to repent, warning against presumptuous sin and the folly of delaying repentance.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Rebellion can exist in lawfully ordained offices

Nadab and Abihu were legitimate priests, yet they rebelled. Similarly, civil rulers can violate their oaths and become traitors.

The speaker states, 'Rebellion may exist in lawfully ordained offices and by lawfully appointed individuals' and discusses constitutional oaths.

Will worship is a grave sin

Adding human inventions to God's prescribed worship is treason and idolatry, as seen in Nadab and Abihu's strange fire.

The speaker says, 'Will worship is strange fire that which God has commanded them not' and cites Colossians 2:23.

A holy office does not sanctify the officeholder

Neither Aaron's priesthood nor Moses' unique offices could save Nadab and Abihu; salvation is personal.

The speaker argues, 'A holy office will not save or sanctify an unholy man, neither will it save or sanctify his unholy children.'

God's judgment is always righteous

Aaron was forbidden to mourn because God's judgment was just; we must always side with God even when it affects our family.

The speaker says, 'When God judges our children, we must always side with the Lord' and references Genesis 18:25.

The punishment fits the crime

Nadab and Abihu sinned by fire and were destroyed by fire, illustrating the biblical law of retribution.

The speaker explains lex talionis and cites Exodus 21:24-25 and Galatians 6:7-8.

Holiness increases with nearness to God

Those who serve God closely must be increasingly holy, as God will be sanctified in them.

The speaker quotes Leviticus 10:3 and Hebrews 12:14.

God's Word brings life or death

The same gospel is a savor of life to believers and death to unbelievers; God is glorified in both.

The speaker cites 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 and notes that Aaron held his peace because God is glorified either way.

Presumptuous sin leads to sudden destruction

Nadab and Abihu were struck down instantly without time to repent, warning against delaying repentance.

The speaker says, 'They died in the very act of their sin' and quotes Proverbs 29:1.

Scripture References

Leviticus 10:1-3: The account of Nadab and Abihu offering strange fire and being consumed by fire from the Lord.
Hebrews 10:1-4: The law is a shadow of good things to come, but the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins.
Psalm 82:6-7: God tells judges they are 'gods' but will die like men if they abuse their authority.
2 Kings 11:17: Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people.
2 Chronicles 23:16: Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, the people, and the king that they should be the Lord's people.
1 Samuel 12:24-25: Samuel warns that if the people do wickedly, both they and their king will be consumed.
Psalm 2:1-3: The kings and rulers take counsel against the Lord and His anointed, wanting to break free from God's authority.
Psalm 94:20: The throne of iniquity, which frames mischief by law, cannot have fellowship with God.
Colossians 2:18, 23: Paul warns against voluntary humility, worship of angels, and will worship, which have a show of wisdom but are not from God.
1 Samuel 13:8-14: King Saul offered a burnt offering without authority and was told his kingdom would not continue.
Numbers 3:1-4: Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord and had no children.
1 Chronicles 24:2: Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children.
Psalm 55:23: Deceitful men shall not live out half their days.
Jeremiah 22:28-30: God declares Coniah childless and that none of his seed will prosper on David's throne.
Deuteronomy 32:5: Moses was king in Jeshurun.
Deuteronomy 18:15: Moses prophesied that God would raise up a prophet like him.
Exodus 21:24-25: The law of retribution: eye for eye, tooth for tooth, burning for burning.
Galatians 6:7-8: Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap; sowing to the flesh reaps corruption.
Hebrews 12:14: Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
2 Corinthians 2:14-16: We are a sweet savor of Christ: to the saved, a savor of life; to the perishing, a savor of death.

Historical References

United States Constitution, Article 6, Paragraph 2: The speaker quotes the Supremacy Clause to argue that the federal government is bound by the Constitution and that rulers who violate it are traitors.
Thomas Jefferson: Jefferson is quoted as saying, 'bind them down with the chains of the Constitution.'
Bishop Hall: Quoted: 'It is a dangerous thing in the service of God to decline from his own institutions.'

Important Quotes

Rebellion may exist in lawfully ordained offices and by lawfully appointed individuals.

This is a key thesis of the sermon, emphasizing that even legitimate authorities can act rebelliously.

Will worship is strange fire that which God has commanded them not.

Defines will worship as the modern equivalent of Nadab and Abihu's sin.

A holy office will not save or sanctify an unholy man, neither will it save or sanctify his unholy children.

A central lesson from the passage, stressing personal responsibility over inherited position.

When God judges our children, we must always side with the Lord.

A difficult but necessary application of acknowledging God's righteous judgment.

Nadab and Abihu sinned by fire, and God judged and destroyed them, and they died by fire.

Illustrates the lex talionis principle that punishment fits the crime.

The closer we get to the Lord, the more holy we must be.

Summarizes the requirement of increasing holiness for those who serve God.

God's going to be glorified either in salvation or damnation, but He will be glorified.

Highlights the dual outcome of God's revelation and the certainty of His glory.

They died in the very act of their sin.

Warns of the suddenness of divine judgment without opportunity for repentance.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

In what ways might we be guilty of 'will worship' today—adding our own preferences to God's prescribed worship?

[Context]

The speaker defines will worship as inventing modes of worship independently of God's revelation.

[Question]

How should we respond when we see leaders (civil or spiritual) acting rebelliously against God's commands?

[Context]

The sermon discusses rebellion in lawfully ordained offices and the covenantal nature of government.

[Question]

What does it mean to 'side with the Lord' when He judges someone close to us, and how can we practically do that?

[Context]

Aaron was compelled to acknowledge God's righteous judgment on his sons without mourning.

[Question]

How does the principle of lex talionis (the punishment fits the crime) shape our understanding of God's justice?

[Context]

The speaker explains that Nadab and Abihu sinned by fire and died by fire.

[Question]

Why is it dangerous to assume we can delay repentance until later in life?

[Context]

Nadab and Abihu were struck down suddenly without time to repent, illustrating the folly of presumptuous sin.

[Question]

How can we cultivate greater holiness as we draw nearer to God in service and worship?

[Context]

The speaker emphasizes that God will be sanctified in those who come near Him.

[Question]

In what ways have you experienced the 'two-edged sword' nature of God's Word—either drawing you closer or revealing hardness of heart?

[Context]

The same gospel is a savor of life to some and death to others.

[Question]

How does the failure of the Levitical priesthood point us to the sufficiency of Christ's priesthood?

[Context]

The speaker notes that the Levitical priesthood could not make anyone perfect, pointing to Jesus.

Applications

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